Heritage Precinct Citation Report – HO269

Heritage Precinct Citation Report – Julia Street Commercial

Portland Heritage Precinct (HO165) - Julia Street Commercial Sub Precinct

Hermes No XXXX Precinct Citation Report Page 1

Heritage Precinct Citation Report – HO269

Julia Street Commercial

Historical background

The Julia Street Commercial Sub Precinct extends from

Bentinck Street east to Percy Street on both sides of

Julia Street.

The first official government visit to Portland was from

Foster Fyans, the first police magistrate at Geelong, who

travelled overland from Geelong to Portland in June

1839. Fyans reported to the Governor, Sir George Gipps,

on the promising land at Portland and the extent of the

Hentys’ landholdings (Learmonth 1960). This visit was

followed shortly after by the first official survey between

December 1839 and February 1840 by Charles J Tyers.

Tyers reported a town population of 203 at that time. The

first land sales for Portland occurred in Melbourne in

October 1840 (Learmonth 1960). Prices were high for

properties at that time and for a time Portland vied with

Melbourne for the status of major settlement of the

southern region. A building boom followed the land sales,

and from 1840-42 four hotels and four churches were

established followed by the first banks in 1846 and 1847

(Tout-Smith 2003).

Julia Street was established as a commercial hub to

service the port and its early industry from 1840s. As a

result the Julia Street Commercial Sub Precinct has the

largest collective intact group of early commercial

buildings in the Glenelg Shire, and potentially in Victoria.

Physical description

The Julia Street Commercial Sub Precinct is typified by

colonial and early Victorian commercial architecture. The

buildings in the Sub Precinct have consistent roof styles

(generally concealed gable or hipped roof with parapet)

and verandah types (where present).

From the Bentinck Street intersection, Julia Street slopes

uphill to Percy Street. There is consistent use of building

materials in the Sub Precinct including bluestone,

weatherboard and rendered brick and the streets still

remain much of the original bluestone kerbing and

guttering.

The south side of Julia Street contains generally single

fronted one and two-storey, commercial buildings. The

majority of these buildings were constructed of bluestone

of brick (sometimes rendered). The early colonial

Georgian style places (for example at 7 Julia Street) were

simple, unadorned and plain with little detailing,

consisting of bluestone with brick outbuildings. These

places were constructed from the 1840s to the 1860s.

Later, in the 1870s to 1900s Victorian style shop fronts

were constructed from weatherboard or rendered brick

and ornate parapets and verandahs are more common.

The north side of Julia Street between Bentinck and

Percy Streets contains much more substantial bluestone

structures. Early buildings, located close to the jetties

and trad industries focused around the early wool trade.

The Hentys built stores at 3, 6 and 8 Julia Streets in the

early 1850 to store wool prior to export. Large public

buildings such as the former ANZ Bank at the corner of

Julia and Percy Street dominate the streetscape.

Introduction

This Heritage Citation for the Julia Street Commercial

Sub Precinct documents the historical background of

the Sub Precinct and presents an assessment of

heritage significance.

This Citation identifies properties based on their

contribution to the heritage values of the Sub

Precinct:

• ‘Significant’ heritage places are individually

important places of State or local heritage

significance. They are listed individually in the

Glenelg Shire Planning Scheme Schedule to the

Heritage Overlay. They can also be places that,

when combined within a precinct, form an

important part of the heritage significance of the

precinct.

• ‘Contributory’ heritage places are places that

contribute to the heritage significance of a

precinct. They are not considered to be

individually important places of heritage

significance, however when combined with other

‘significant’ and/or ‘contributory’ heritage places,

they play an integral role in demonstrating the

heritage significance of a precinct.

• ‘Non-contributory’ places are places within a

heritage precinct that have no identifiable

heritage significance. They are included within a

Heritage Overlay because any development of

the place may impact on the heritage

significance of the precinct or adjacent

‘significant’ or ‘contributory’ heritage places.




Comparative analysis

The Julia Street Commercial Sub Precinct has similar

characteristics and significance to the Port Fairy

Commercial Precinct (Moyne Shire HO14). Both

Precincts include traditional verandahs, little to no

building setbacks, a mix of single and double storey

buildings and remnant street infrastructure such as

bluestone gutters and kerbing. Both Precincts contain a

representative selection of building styles over different

periods integral to the history of each town. Finally, both

Precincts are relatively intact (with a few potential infill

areas). The Port Fairy Commercial Sub Precinct is

historically, architecturally and socially significant to the

Moyne Shire.

Another comparative commercial precinct in a port town

is the Warrnambool Commercial Precinct (Warrnambool

City Council HO234). The Warrnambool Commercial

Precinct is significant for the way its early grid plan

provides a focus for the business, social and

entertainment functions within the town. Similar to the

Julia Street Commercial Sub Precinct, the Warrnambool

Commercial Precinct is architecturally significant for its

mixture of architecture, intact verandahs and street

infrastructure.

What is significant?

The Julia Street Commercial Sub Precinct from Bentinck

Street in the east to Percy Street in the west, along both

sides of Julia Street.

Contributory elements include:

• Early colonial commercial functional building design

in bluestone, as represented by 4-6 Julia Street, 7

Julia Street, 8-12 Julia Street, and 44 Percy Street.

• Early bluestone commercial buildings at 13-15 Julia

Street and 37 Julia Street, with intact and historically

important rear portions. Altered facades on these

buildings do not contribute to the heritage value of

the Sub Precinct.

• Very early (pre-1853) architecture of a variety of

styles in Julia Street including 7 Julia Street, 21 Julia

Street (former Union Inn) and 41-43 Julia Street

(former Britannia Hotel).

• Existing original and reconstructed corrugated iron

sloping verandahs form. Verandahs are timber

framed and extend from the building façade to the

kerb line. Timber fascias on verandahs vary from

plain to curved (Wilson Sayer 1981).

• Associations with prominent settlers, businessmen

and builders/architects including Stephen Henty

(wool stores at 4-6 Julia Street, 8-12 Julia Street and

rear 7 Julia Street), John Barrow (built former ANZ

Bank at 44 Julia Street), and James Trangmar (7

Julia Street).

• Twentieth century architecture represented by the

former Bank of New South Wales at 53A Julia

Street, the Star Cinema and adjacent shop and the

Ruth Martin Memorial Centre. These places

represent the reinvigoration of Julia Street that took

place in the post-WWII era, as community facilities

and services were upgraded in the town.

• Pre-decimal painted advertising for MacRobertson’s

Chocolates still present inside the shop at 47 Julia

Street. This advertising consists of three framed

panels painted onto the wall.

• The majority of buildings in the Sub Precinct have

little to no setbacks, presenting a common

appearance to the buildings, particularly on the

south side of Julia Street.

• Outbuildings at 11, 17, 19-21 and 29 Julia Street.

• Bluestone gutters and crossovers along both sides

of Julia Street. These are dated to the early

establishment of the town.

• Views to the east of Portland Bay, particularly from

the intersection of Percy and Julia Streets.

How is it significant?

The Julia Street Commercial Sub Precinct is of historical

significance (HERCON Criterion B), aesthetic

significance (HERCON Criterion E), creative/ technical

significance (HERCON Criterion F) and associative

significance (HERCON Criterion H) to the Glenelg Shire.

Why is it significant?

The Julia Street Commercial Sub Precinct is historically

significant (HERCON Criterion A) to the Glenelg Shire as

one of the earliest commercial precincts in Victoria and

for its association with early wool trade and industry and

the establishment of the Port at Portland.

The Julia Street Commercial Sub Precinct is aesthetically

significant (HERCON Criterion E) to the Glenelg Shire for

exhibiting key commercial architecture particular to

different phases of Portland’s development. The Sub

Precinct contains excellent and rare examples of colonial

Georgian architecture combined with Victorian and mid-

twentieth century architecture. The consistent proximity

to the street of the single and double-storey buildings

creates an intact and uniform streetscape, which is

unusual given the variety of styles present.




The Julia Street Commercial Sub Precinct is of creative

and technical significance (HERCON Criterion F) to the

Glenelg Shire for demonstrating early functional building

styles which were developed in a regionally-specific way

to serve the massive storage requirements to service the

maritime trade needs of the town, particularly the wool

industry. The several wool stores located in Julia Street,

provide a visual reminder of the requirements of the time

and the prosperity of Portland in the mid to late

nineteenth century.

The Julia Street Commercial Sub Precinct is of

associative significance (HERCON Criterion H) to the

Glenelg Shire for its association with key prominent

social, political and business community members in the

nineteenth and early twentieth centuries.

Photographs

19-21 Julia Street (Shops / former Union Inn) (significant)

Example of bluestone gutters and the base of an original verandah

post, outside 19-21 Julia Street

‘Glasgow House’, 39 Julia Street (c1880) , Drawing dated to c1900

(significant) (Source: History House, Portland)

‘Glasgow House’, 39 Julia Street (c1880). Rendered brick, Italian

Renaissance style (significant)




Julia Street in 1859, viewed from corner of Percy and Julia Street

looking southwest. Colonial Georgian–style shopfronts and lack of

verandah reminiscent of early style are evident (Source: State Library of

Victoria ref H2013-345/11)

Julia Street in 1880, viewed from corner of Percy and Julia Street

looking southwest. Victorian influences appearing as verandahs

become more prominent and signage is erected (Source: State Library

of Victoria ref B21766/95)

Star Cinema (1937), 40 Julia Street (proposed as significant)

Former Bank of NSW (1950s), 53 Julia Street (significant)

Portland Print shop (1930s), adjacent to the Star Cinema, 40 Julia

Street (contributory)

Chocolate advertising signage internal at 47 Julia Street




Julia Street Commercial Sub Precinct Map

Contributory Places

11 Julia Street

23 Julia Street

25 Julia Street

40 Julia Street (small shop adjacent to Star Cinema)

47 Julia Street

49 Julia Street

Significant Places

1A Julia Street (London Inn Assembly Rooms)

3 Julia Street (Store)

4-6 Julia Street (Former Henty Warehouse)

7 Julia Street (Canton Palace Restaurant and brick wool

store at rear dates to Hentys pre-1850)

8-12 Julia Street (Former Henty wool store)

13-15 Julia Street (Shops)

17 Julia Street (Shop)

19-21 Julia Street (Shops / former Union Inn)

27-29 Julia Street (Shop)

31-33 Julia Street (Shops)

37 Julia Street (Former Frosts Newsagency)

39 Julia Street (Glasgow House)

41-43 Julia Street (Shops / Former Britannia Hotel)

53 Julia Street (Former Bank of New South Wales)

44 Percy Street (Former ANZ Bank)

Proposed as Significant Places

5 Julia Street (Shop)

3 Julia Street (rear bluestone warehouses)

40 Julia Street (Star Cinema)

34 Julia Street (Ruth Martin Memorial Centre)




Recommended Controls (2016)

External Paint Controls Yes

Internal Alteration Controls No

Tree Controls No

Fences & Outbuildings No

Prohibited Uses May Be Permitted No

Incorporated Plan No

Aboriginal Heritage Place No

References

Bennett, G. 1993. Portland Then and Now. Gwen Bennett: Portland

Birmingham, FW. 1853 Map of the town of Portland in the Colony of Victoria. Surveyed and etched on stone and

published by Frederick William Birmingham.

Learmonth, N. 1960. The Story of a Port, Portland Victoria. Portland Harbour Trust: Portland Victoria.

Tout-Smith, D. 2003. Municipality of Portland, Victoria, in Museum Victoria Collections

http://collections.museumvictoria.com.au/articles/2311, accessed 7 June 2016.

This information is provided for guidance only and does not supersede official documents, particularly the planning scheme. Planning controls should be verified

by checking the relevant municipal planning scheme.

Documents

Heritage Precinct Citation Report – HO269